yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[G Tablet Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] aabbondanza:
Glad your doing it and not me.

I have no problem playing gTablet native res videos (1024x600 @ 1.5Mbps) but haven't tried going to the higher resolutions, mostly because I've had no need to since you can't display the higher res on the tablet screen and also since I don't have Blue Ray video to encode (still like using DVDs).

I think you'll be lucky to get 1080p to run depending on the bit & frame rate you encode at, especially on the software decoding. I encoded both of my tests videos @ DVD resolution (from a DVD); 720x480 @ 1.5Mbps/24fps & 720x480 @ 2.5Mbp/24fps.

720p res @ 1280x720 is not too far off our native res, but 1080p (1920x1080) takes over 3x the number of pixels per frame as our native res (or roughly 2Mpixels per frame just for video) times at least 24 @ a 24 fps frame rate. I realize that with encoding, you won't actually be transfering that much data, but you will still have to be uncompress (decode) it. I think the hardware and especially the software decoding will have a hard time keeping up. Heck, I couln't even get software decoding to play 720x480 @2.5mMbps. Yes the Tegra2 can output 1080p via HDMI on the dock, but I believe it just upconverts our native 1024x600 res in doing so. I've seen the output of the HDMI & it leaves a lot to be desired.

Happy encoding & good luck.

Al
[G Tablet Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] TJEvans:
OK, testing has begun

Calk/Clem OCed 1500 mhz

egl.cfg file:

0 0 android

0 1 tegra

Video 1, Avatar blue ray rip 1080p, resolution 1920X1080

Rockplayer - hardware decoding, won't play a all, just defaults back ot file selection screen

Rockplayer - software decoding, plays, very choppy, lots of noise

mobo player - hardware decode default- receive message that file can not be played, select softwar edecoding

mobo player - software decoding, plays, very choppy, but without noise

vital player - hardware decode default, doesn't play, just a black screen

vitalplayer - software codec play, plays, choppy, no noise

QQplayer, hardware default, doesn't play, will not even open the file

QQplayer, software decode, plays, choppy, no noise

Video 2 Avatar 3D (but I lost my blue/red 3d glasses, DOH!) 720p

Rockplayer, hardware decode, doesn't play, goes back to file selection screen

Rockplayer software decode, plays, choppy, but not severe, so choppy though that sound suffers

Moboplayer hardware default, same as above, says it won't play

Moboplayer software decode, plays, but in a weird sort of slow motion, not quite choppy, but sluggish, no sound

vital player hardware default, no video, but sounds is perfect

Vital player, software decode choppy video, no sound

QQplayer , hardware default, nothing, won't even attempt to play

QQplayer, software decode, plays, choppy video and sound

There are the results of Froyo testing of 1080p and 720p files in Calk/Clem. I'll flash to Brilliant corners for a non TNT based version to see if the results are even remotely different, prior ot doing the HC testing.

In any case, using a rom that's based on hte stock firmware, for the most part, results in non-playable video rendering at 1080p and 720p resolutions.

Playing the 720p through the dock, it was choppy AND grainy, so my dock did not upconvert the vieo files to be clear on the TV...I can't test the 1080p video, because none of them played.

I'll be back later with results for BC, gotta make some backups, first
[G Tablet Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] TJEvans:
OK, phase 2.

Flashed Brilliant Corners. Tested with JUST Rockplayer and got the same exact results as with Calk/Clem.

then I thought of something that Roebeet posed in the Viewsonic FB discussion thread. He said that with the release of 1.2.4349, HD video playback was broken, where it hadn't been prior. SO, I NVFlashed back ot stock 1.1.3588 na tried the videos there...no go, when I COULD get them to attempt to play, they produced similar results. 1080 will not play at all with hardware decoding, and software decoding is still pretty choppy. Even when it plays somewhat smoothly on certain players, the sound is still borked, so it's unwatchable. I flash to Calk/Clem v5 (1.1 bootloader) and that didn't help. The OC made the video smoother, but the sound was not able to be heard.

On ALL of hte roms and bootloader combinations, the Dock to TV image is still grainy and pixelated.

SO, my conclusion with Froyo roms, is that even though we supposedly have the drivers to provide hardware acceleration for HD vieo playback, we can still not successfully watch a full 1080p or 720p movie without issues. I was unable to get either of them to play on various roms, bootloaders, or players.

Since I don't have a video benchmark with which to test hardware acceleration on Honeycomb roms, I guess the best I can do is post the results of those tests here as well. Either way, HD playback is not able to be done, on my Gtablet, anyway.

THIS is something that we CAN badger Viewsonic about, since they claim that 1080p conversion is supported.

Off to the wonderful land of Honeycomb, I guess
[G Tablet Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] tlbardelljr:
Very interesting. I greatly appreciate the time you are taking to this. I am pretty sure I could play 720p with cm7 on 1.2 bootloader.
[G Tablet Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] aabbondanza:
The dock does not upconvert. The Tegra is actually what does the upconverting. All the dock does us convert from gTab dock port to an HDMI connector. The only time you will get a non grainy output on the TV is if the Tegra is doing hardware decoding. Try encoding @ native res, 1.5Mbps bit rate & 24 FPS & then try both hardware & software decoding & you will see a difference. You may be able to bump up the res to 720p (1280x720)(but I haven't tested it). The bit rate seems to be the critical part if you go much over 1.5MBps, you are probably going to get a fail on hardware decoding. Software compensates by lowering the frame rate/skipping frames if bit rate is too high.

Al
[G Tablet Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] poymeister:
A couple points:

This thread: http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=890096 talks about encoding HD sources for gtab playing. The 1024x??? format is interesting. I think I will try a few transcoding experiments with some 1080p sources to see if I can get them to work.

I was just playing with a few demo clips from the net this afternoon and I found that 1280x720p didn't work well with either RockPlayer HW or SW decoding (on OC clem/calk6). However, I found a 1280x544 clip (yes, 544) that played ok. 544 has a black band on the top and bottom in native mode. The 1280x544 clip did not have a noticeable difference between HW and SW decoding modes.

So, this leads me to wonder: when/if HW acceleration arrives for HC, will anyone notice a difference for video playback? Will you be able to play a 1080p video?

Anyways, just to reinforce my original point, for DVD-grade video sources, froyo and HC playback is about the same.
[G Tablet Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] TJEvans:
that's what inspired these tests. one dev has claimed that hardware acceleration IS working on his Rom...his will be the next one that I test. Right now, I'm on Flashback. I decided ot start here with Honeycomb becuase of the reported issues flashing it from prior versions, or other roms. I NVFlashed abck ot 4349, which is an ideal starting point to flash Flashback 7.1
[G Tablet Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] TJEvans:
On to Honeycomb. Beginning with Flashback 7.1. Confirmed that hardware acceleration is enabled in egl.cfg

in a nutshell, it will not play with hardware decoding. Some players flat out state, will not play in system player, please choose software decoding.

Software decoding, same results as with Froyo, nice visuals, but choppy as all get out.

On to illuminate...where hardware acceleration is supposedly working...I should not get a response from any player that it can not be played in system player if this is the case. Regardless of quality, it should at least attempt to play, and not provide a refusal.
[G Tablet Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] edirector:
First these are all words with no proof. Where is the video or pics of the benchmarks, some stats or something other than just your word please...

This is your very first statement...

FWIW, I have tried GtabCom, Flashback, and Clemsyn/Calkulin6 recently, and I think I am going to stick with Clem/Calk6 (froyo).

You include illuminate in your analysis but it is not in your initial write up. Also, how did you run illuminate with Clemsyn/Calkulin6 when it has it own kernel as part of the rom?

And how did you get any adequate results when the roms didn't get to settle in?

By the way we appreciate your effort most want to know but at least run some benchmark test, post the screenshots and videos of your findings, or give us some tangible proof of your experimentation.
[G Tablet Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] TJEvans:
you have GOT to be kidding. You need to take my word for it the same way that everyone else is supposed to take LBS's word for what they are able to achieve.

The only proof I can offer that I flashed illuminate for testing is to describe the screens for you. I flashed it, it began to run, 3 birds, then Illuminate splash screen, with app logos on the left, "Illuminate" in a really cool font top center, and I think "Android 3.0" botttom right. Next was the animated splash screen, which is the same exact honeycomb type blue fading animation that Calkulin has been using since March. The rom loaded and it had an impressive custom lock screen. The lock button was not hte typical blue lock, but a cool green lock with a custom border around it. The Google search, Apps, and + buttons on top are green, not blue like Gtabcomb and Flashback. There was no status bar on the bottom of the screen, which kinda confused me a bit. The rom did not start with any account setup like Flashback does. The default wallpaper is the same as the second splash screen seen on startup. The setup, apps drawer and "add to home screen" screens are default honeycomb blue screens, with horizontally scrollable icons.

Today, I started with Calk/Clem v6, flashed to BC, flashed to 1.1.3588, flashed to Calk/Clem v5, flashed to 1.2.4349, flashed to Flashback, Then to Illuminate, and now I'm back on Flashback again. I tested both 1080p and 720p videos as well as standard definition videos in EVERY ROM (except 4349, I kept getting the Viewsonic force closes).

Hardware decoding is only available on Froyo roms, but it doesn't matter becuase hte videos aer unwatchable anyway.

First, you bash me for not testing on my own, and asking you guys to test for me. Then I test for myself, and becuase you're not satisfied with the results, you bash me, still. You can't accept the fact that LBS is untruthful. You can't accept that I may be right.

you can't demonstrate how hardware acceleration IS working, but you actually expect me to demonstrate how it ISN'T???

Oh, and YES, we are aware that hardware acceleration is possible in Honeycomb applications which is what that article relates to. I've read your article, it means nothing in the realm of whether or not hardware video acceleration is working on our devices. Hardware acceleration requires DRIVERS. drivers that LBS does NOT have access to, NOBODY does. Videos can be opened using hardware decoding in Froyo roms, becuase Froyo has drivers. They can not be opened in Honeycomb roms, due ot lack of drivers. The main point I make, is that IT DOESN'T FLIPPIN MATTER, since hte quality is so crappy in Froyo anyay. Both Froyo and HC roms can soft decode standard video, which makes them EQUAL, as far as I'm concerned...
[G Tablet Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] aabbondanza:
Conversion for the gTablet doesn't have to take forever. Here are two Windows apps I use and they are free. The first has a gTablet specific profile & will convert nearly any video format. The gTablet profile will convert to 1024x600 in one of 3 bit rates (.75Mbps, 1.5Mbps or 2.5Mbps) @ 24fps. Conversion time is consierably faster than Handbrake. It also has profiles for many other Android devices and has a profile editor if you don't like the default profiles. http://dvdvideosoft.com/download/FreeVideoToAndroidConverter.exe

For those that want to convert DVDs the second app doesn't have a gTablet specific profile but I found that the Apple TV profile settings (I believe is converts to 720x304...DVD is 704x480) works well. Took me about 2hrs to convert a 1:40 movie last night for testing.

http://dvdvideosoft.com/download/FreeDVDVideoConverter.exe

When installing, choose the custom install unless you want ask.com as your homepage & the ask toolbar.

Al
[G Tablet Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] edirector:
Question can you convert to different sizes? I use SPB Mobile since I had it already. It takes the files down to about 700 or so mbs depending what option you choose. I will try your converter. Is it a decoder and converter?
[G Tablet Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] TJEvans:
I am using fee video to android converter (at your suggestion). But you must realize, I'm converting a nearly 4GB file. I converted a standard def movie the other day, about 699mb, and it took nearly 9 hours to convert...how do I do it faster?
[G Tablet Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] aabbondanza:
You aren't converting it on that net book are you? If so, that it why!

I haven't timed the Free Converter in a while, but like I said, I converted a 1hr 40 min DVD that was over 5Gb yesterday and it took only 2hr & 2 minutes.
[G Tablet Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] TJEvans:
uh, haha, yeah, I am...I just do it overnight while I'm sleeping.
[G Tablet Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] aabbondanza:
WOW, that's dedication! No wonder it takes that long. Just converted that 107Mb 1080 4+ minute video & it took 7 minutes, that would work out to less that 4hrs to convert a full 1080p movie. Standard def is much faster. We need to find you a faster PC.
[G Tablet Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] rajeevvp:
Hmm. TJ, while I give you full marks for diligence, I also have to take most of it away for the semi-random way you have gone about this test. It's no wonder that the peanut gallery are now standing there with their arms folded, saying, "Nah! We just don't believe you. Show us the numbers."

Deciding on a test matrix would've been useful before you started on the benchmark tests. That way you could've systematically (and mechanically) tested each item on the matrix and put the resulting metric in a spread sheet or something. Heck, with a proper test matrix we could've apportioned the tests to different users, each going through the same tests using the same input files on a different ROM. You needn't have shouldered all the work.

If you care to do this properly, we can decide and agree on a proper test matrix and use standard and non-copyrighted input files like the Nvidia test file aabbondanza posted. I usually check using Big Buck Bunny and Elephant's Dream. Try those files and you'll find that it's possible to play 1920x1080 Mpeg4-Part 2 (DivX) encoded avi files (very slowly/out-of-sync sound) using the hardware on HC (GtabComb beta 3.3).

Personally, I don't have a lot of interest in watching 1080p movies on the gTab, or, in HW acceleration beyond what's currently available, but, if you want, I could take a stab at creating a test matrix you could try out in future.
[G Tablet Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] aabbondanza:
They are both converters. The android converter will convert all different types of video formats to either the presets for the device you select or you can create custom profiles with you own supplied res, bitrate, frame rate, & audio settings and then have it convert it to the format you want. It also do same format to same format, so you sould have a 1080p mp4 & downconvert to an mp4 with 1024x600, .75Mbps bit rate using .mp3 quality sound if you wanted.

The dvd convertor is less flexible...you get to pick one of 7 preset devices and you can convert to mp4, mkv or avi.
[G Tablet Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] rajeevvp:
You do realize that there is a difference between using the HW for accelerating 2D/3D graphics and using the HW for assistance when decoding/encoding HD movies? And that having one does not imply having the other?
[G Tablet Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] rajeevvp:
Weeell, why would you want to prove self-evident things like that?

I can't comment on his ROM because I haven't used it, but, I looked at "his" kernel after he reluctantly put the sources up on github last month. He hasn't updated the code for ages, and nobody seems to be paying much attention to it, so I'm willing to let it die a quiet death, so I'll only say that the changes he made does not inspire confidence in his ability as a kernel programmer.

And, as I said, I appreciate your hard work in testing what they claimed, but, having a proper matrix would've been judged a little bit more impartially. Plus, anyone else would be able to replicate the tests by just downloading a few files. Think if it as gtab-video-HW-test-for-dummies.com.
[G Tablet Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] TJEvans:
What can I say, I'm a chef, not a programmer, developer, software engineer, professional tester, etc...I can cook up a pretty good meal, though.

I had a goal, and I accomplished it. What I love the most is that when we asked for confirmation that hardware acceleration was working on Illuminate, wer were confronted with "try it for yourself," "LBS doesn't NEED to prove anything."

yet now that I've confirmed that Illuminate can't even open a standard definition video file using hardware decoding, I'm being told that I need to prove that it doesn't work.

LBS's days are probably numbered here anyway. He's been told to Edit his OP, and start supporting his rom, here, if he wishes ot host it here. Jerdog made it clear what needs to be done. We'll see.

I'll bet that next week, he'll anounce that he's working on an Ice Cream Sandwich rom...
[G Tablet Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] reeser:
Tweetcaster, Friendcaster, Nook bookreader yeah there are phone versions of them that I could run on Froyo or Gingerbread roms but the HC ones are just *so* much better. Yeah HC runs slower on tablet then the say Beasty/Clem but not enough of a tradeoff for me to giveup the nice organized designed for 10 inch screen apps.
[G Tablet Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] TJEvans:
we actually do have 2 other laptops in the house. But try getting my wife and son to let me use them. Our desktops are in various stages of disassembly.
[G Tablet Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] poymeister:
TJ - thanks for all your testing today, although I really wish you didn't turn this thread into an LBS diss-ing ground ... :)

I am setting my expectations low on HW acceleration vastly improving the HC video watching experience. New/better apps, widgets, and improved stability will likely be the things that swing me back to HC.
[G Tablet Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] TJEvans:
I know, and I apologize. There is another thread here where that is better suited for...

this all started becuase I, and MANY others just wanted confirmation that hardware acceleration was working. I mean, really, at the time, we thought that it would be wonderful. Since nobody on that thread wanted to show us that it was, I had to somehow show that it wasn't. In turn, it added to LBS's reputation.
[G Tablet Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] barqers:
I was just curious which HC ROM you guys have found to be most stable? I've been looking at them all and they all seem good. But I can't decide if I should just stay on Vegan ROM or not?
[G Tablet Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] TJEvans:
I can honestly say that all of them are pretty stable right now. They've all come a long way since the initial release of BOS back in May. With that said, though, they all have their own little quirks as well. It's not that hard to flash all 3 and use them for a week at a time to see which one you like best.

By Vegan Rom, I'm assuming that you're still on Bootloader 1.1? If that's the case, then you may want to start with Gtabcomb, since it also has a 1.1 version. Then flash stock 4349, and try Flashback (it's easier to get flashed when on stock firmware to begin with. Then move on to illuminate (it can be flashed right over top of Flashback) Just remember, before and after each flash, wipe dalvik and wipe cache. You may need to wipe data/factory restore before Flashback will initialize. Flashback comes with the startup screens, to setup network and accounts. If you complete the setup on 4349 prior ot flashing Flashback, then that data needs to be wiped before Flashback will initialize.

Using each one for a couple days will give you an idea of how they function, what works, what doesn't. Depending on your needs, you'll figure out which is right for you.

Hope this helps!
[G Tablet Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] MechAniX.one:
Well after 3 hours of work I was finally able to go from Vegan Tab 5.1.1 to HC Flashback. Is it just me or does Honeycomb make every thing look smaller? To me HC looks nice but it really doesnt stand out like I had hoped it to. I will give it a couple weeks to see if it grows on me and if any new development happens. I like how web browsing felt on Vegan Tab so I might be going back. And for video play back I noticed a difference too. Vegan Tab looked much better to me.
[G Tablet Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] TJEvans:
Quick tip...whatever launcher you were using on Vegan, you can also use on Honeycomb. The status bar at the bottom will remain, but you'll lose the embedded search, app drawer, and +(add to home screen) buttons. so, you can use VTL or launcherpro and still be able ot utilize the 3D scrollable widgets and such. Try out different web browsers too, the HC versions of some are real keepers, and may help with your browsing experience.
[G Tablet Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] aabbondanza:
You may be able to use VTL, but gojimi, the developer says that the latest version (1.6.5) is not yet Honeycomb compatible. http://vegantab.gojimi.com/vt-labs/vtl-launcher/
[G Tablet Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] roberto188:
"What I DID prove, is "whether it's working or not, it's unimportant." You can't watch a 1080p, or 720p movie on a froyo rom, just as you can not watch one on a honeycomb rom. SO, hardware acceleration is a non-issue when deciding to flash a honeycomb rom. Pick your favorite and go with it..."

This is patently false. With Froyo you can watch all sorts of HD video. I personally have watched 720P XVID movies as well as h264 720p and 1080p videos using the stock video player. These h264 videos MUST use the baseline profile...but it can be done. Many people don't mind just watching a lower def xvid of their favorite movie, and I don't blame them, but I have watched maybe 2 movies using the software decoder on a honeycomb rom and the battery was almost totally drained, whereas I have watched 4 consecutive h264 and xvid videos using the hardware decoder on a Froyo rom and the battery was still had 25% battery. The Tegra 2's low power consumption for video decoding was one of the huge benefits of it. Also, if you have a hdmi cable or dock for the Gtab, only hardware accelerated videos look good with the HDMI output. Software decoded videos scale HORRIBLY on the TV. So, for some people, like myself, hardware decoding is a big deal.
[G Tablet Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] barqers:
Thank you for such a detailed response! I will definitely try out the hc roms :)
[G Tablet Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] TJEvans:
I read that too, and was tentative. I was searching for a new launcher and searched some Xoom forums. Come to find out, there are lots of people that don't much care for stock HC launcher. Most of htem are using LP and ADW with no problems. Since VTL is based on ADW, I assumed it would be safe. I installed it, and it worked fine for the couple days I had it set as my default. I assumed that they put that disclaimer in there so that if people DID have problems they wouldn't take them to Vegantab devs. After all, VTL is solid, it would be honeycomb that messes it up.

I did, however go back to Launcherpro...I just can't give up it's cool customizable widgets.